Bottle carrier



July 1l, 1950 G. H. ALLINGTON Erm. 2,514,358

BOTTLE CARRIER Filed NOV. 5, 1945 Patented July 11, 1950 BOTTLE CARRIER.George H Allingtgn and Joseph M Grzelak, Rockford, 111 assgnorsoi"forty per centto George H. Allington, thirty per cent to JosephM.'Grzelak, 'and thirty per' cent to Wesley Beckovich, Rockford, Ill.

Application Nogember 5, insegna! Naoaacis 12 Claims. (Cl. 224-45) l Thisinvention relates to bottle carriers vfor bottles.

Innrmereble designs and eonsiruetieneeieerriers for. pnbottles'havebeen. proposed, but the meirtv fV them ere' too complicated and, eX-peasive and mehr, have been. Qbjeetioneble fram the standpoint that'theywill not permit staching. thel bottlesin carriers for display. purpee Itis thereforethe principal object of our inventien to prei/ideebottle-carrier mede of. the fewest Possible number .oi parte., tio-wit,e base on which te.I .rest the bettles andy .Opnsed handle. heilepiteted te the. onpveetefeidesef the bese en@ erreseedtv be eiiielslvand easily. intermedi.. et their. upper ends' totem. a .QOIWQQCQU han???.for Geer-vine, 'ellfthee parte beine Qi extremely. Sim.- ple .andeconomical, .but nevertheless thoroughly Semeeeble..eenstrutiea A..salient featureei 'the present carrier iS the sliding pivotal.connections forl the lower ends of the baile On. the bese. which permitsreire the.y inierloelsed heile te .carrying pesitieri with the handle inraised. relation tothe tops fof .the bottles; the heile otherwise. beinedisposal inf e. lower-ed PQSitiOn with; the-arryine handle die,- posedbetween.v the. necks .Qi'the :beitles and. bel??? thellevel of the.capsthereon so that thexcarrielrs with settles' therein. .me-Y. be.stacked .for display purpesesimekine itferiveseet for the customers and,clerkstolhandle the-.saine Another tee-eure is the .interloekirle 0fthe handles .in .a .hotel manner to facilitate carrying thecarrier.

The invention. is illustrated. in the @scomparire ine'drewiile.,irl-which? Fie 1. is eil-lend f iv 9i. e. beide. carrier mede 11.1.eegeerele.Iree-y with '6111i- .llveiieil Shewinethie handle baile 1.1.1their lower. .Postbn termitting stacking voi c -ers, described, and in-.Fis- 2...is e Sde'riew 9i. Fie 1,

d view of`thec`arrier on a's'maller c l the baille shown spread apartand indicating in dotted lines Yhow other carriers in Similar conditionmay loplaced in stacked rellation thereto for shipment of avlarge numberuse` with 'the` farniliar srna'll .necked soft drinl Y Referring firsttoFigsl and 2, the reference numeral 5 designates'the one piece Ushapedsheet rnetal` bas`,i"and 6 `an`d 1 the Wirebailsi Thebase 5 vis ofr'generally'rectan'gular form to' provide an elpngatedbottom 8 'and'iipwardlybent end walls 9 and I0 Yi'vhicljn'as clearly appears in Fig,2.,are in `upwardly dii/erging relationship so as'toperr'nit nestingolf-bases when number-"of carriers are to be'st'acke'd together inabi'ridl'eA as illustrated in Fig. 3, 4for shipment;2 The end walls 9and Il) ha'vevertic'alslots Il and"'l2 punched therein and the'bails '6'and l have elongated loopsor eyes`l3` and Illl forred on' the lowerVends-of the generally 'U-'shaped wire frames I5 thereof `xtfh'iclf'are'eter'ed loosely in these slots for easy working sliding pivotalconnections between the ba'ils' and bse."'-These"loopsl3 and I4 arenorr'nallyA inthe lower ends of the'slots 'I- and l2 so that' the 'crossportions :"IB and I1 of the frames ofthe ba'i'ls` 6 `and"1, interlockedby the 'smalllug ltozforrn a'carrying handle, are

disposed between the'necks 'of the bottles in the .gf niade "of Nwireinstead carrier andbelow' the horizontal plane of the to'psof the capsof said Avbottles, as cearly illus` trated' in `*Fi`g.1, so' thatIthe-carriers Vmaybe stacked 'for display'purposes inthe store, and yetthere is no difclty vTor the Customer `or clerk t'picknp a carrierinasmuch'as the'handle is easily accessible and can be raised tocarrying position quicklya'ndeasily, as indicatedin dotted lines 4inFig. 1I The 'comp'actne's's of the carrier with the bails in loweredposition is also of acl'-A vantageto the housewife Wherever'it isdesired to place the carrier with the bottles therein 1in therefrigerator. 'This carrier byA reason of its all-arond compactconstruction takes up very little more roomin the 'refrigerator than thebot,- tles would if removed from the carrier.` The ybail 6 on which thelugl is provided has thecross portion I 6 thereof 'slightly `shorterthan the cross portion I1 "of 'the bail '1 so 'as to permit inter.-

tting the upper end ofthe bail' 6 inthe upperv end of bail 1, afterwhich the cross portion I1 is arranged to be flexed to engage it behind.the lug vl B in the mannershvown in Eig. 2. This interlocks the handlessecurely enough so `that they will not come apart accidentally and yetthey may be easily uncoupled Whenever desirede The frames I 5 offthebails 6 and have the legs I9 thereof bent at v2l)toprovide-lowerportions 2l whichare vertically disposed whenthe handlesare interlocked, and these vertical portions -2l have the ends ofparallel horizontal Ywires Z2` and' 23 welded thereon to keep thebottles in position on the baseby ytight ,contact lwith the angles tothe adjacent portionsZI and-these portions 24 are only long enough `toallow room for the two rows of bottles between the wires 22-23 on thetwo bails 5 and I when the bails are in interlocked relationship,allowing only enough for easy up and down movement of the loops I3 andI4 in the slots inasmuch as the freedomof movement of the bails up anddown is so important to the proper vfunctioning 4of the carrier.

The base 5 may have longitudinally extending ribs 25 embossed therein inparallel relation, two under each row of bottles, so that there is gooddrainage of any moisture and good opportunity for drying andconsequently less likelihood of rusting. The ribs 25, furthermore, addstiffness and strength tothe base 5 so that there isless likelihood ofthe same becoming distorted by rough usage. g l n When the bails li` and'lare spread apart, as shown in Fig. 3, the 'carriers may be stackedwith the bases 5 in nested relation,` as previously mentioned, and inthat way a large number may be shipped in the form of a more orlesscompact bundle. Y

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 4 the base 5 is U-shaped likethe base 5 with upwardly diverging end walls to permit nesting ofcarriers in a similar manner, but-the base 5 is made of Wire instead ofsheet metal. This base has a wire frame 2B which provides thevtwo endrungs- 2l and 28 with upwardly bent end portions 29 and 30 on which theloops or eyes I 3 and Id of the bails are attached for the same kind `ofloose-iit' ting, easy working, pivotal sliding connections as areprovided in the other form. The intermediate three wires 3l are parallelto the side rungs 21 and 28 and have upwardly bentend portions 32 whichare welded' at their upper ends tts) the cross portions 33 on the' endsof the frame 2 This construction affords generally the same advantagesas the other, but the -sheet metalbase 5 is preferred over the wirebase-5 because of its lower cost andbetter appearance. In bothconstructions the upwardly bentends are inV upwardly diverging relationtov permit nesting;V as in Fig. 3, andthis outward inclination of theends causes the looped Aends'oi the bails to wedge to a tight fit whenthe hails are raised. thus make ing for better all around -rigidity ofthe carrier.l

It is believedthe foregoing description conveys a good understanding ofthe objects and advantages of our invention. The appended claims havebeen drawn with a View tocove'ring all'legitimate modifications andadaptations.

Weclaimr `v 1. A bottle carrier comprising only three elements, namely,a base formed to provide a bottlesupporting bottom portion and opposedrigid upwardly projecting bottle retaining walls, and -a pair of handlebails for carrying the carrier slide ably pivotally attached directly toopposite sides of said base on said upwardly projecting-walls formovement up and down relative to said base to and from an elevatedcarrying position, said bails being interconnectible and disconnectibleand constructed to serve when interconnected to cooperate with saidbottle retaining walls to retain bottles on said base substantially thesame in. lowered position as when in-elevated carrying position.

2. A bottle carrier comprising only three elements, namely, a baseformed to provide a bottle-supporting bottom portion and opposed rigidupwardly projecting bottle retaining walls having rigid vertical guideportions on opposite ends of `said Walls, and a pair of invertedgenerally U-shaped handle bails for carrying the carrier having eyesformed on the lower end of the arms of the Us which are slidablypivotally attached directly to said guide portions to permit free up anddown movement of said balls relative to said base to and from anelevated carrying position, the cross portions of the Us forming carrier.handles and being arranged to be held together in one hand in carryingthe carrier, said hails be ving interconnectible and disconnectible and`constructed to 'serve when interconnected Ito cooperate with saidbottle retaining Walls tov retain bottles on said base substantially thesame in lowered position as when in elevated carrying pov sition. l

, 3. A bottle carrier `comprising only three ele-V ments, namely, a baseformed to provide a bottle-supporting bottom portion and opposed rigidupwardly projecting bottlel retaining walls having rigid vertical guideportions on opposite ends of said walls, and a pair of `invertedgenerally U-shaped handlebails for carrying the carrier having eyesformed on the lower endoi the arms of the Us which are slidablypivotally attached directly to said guide portions to -permit free upand down movement of said bailsv relativerto said base to and from anelevatedl carrying position, the `cross portions of the Us formingcarrier handles and being yarranged to be held together in one hand incarrying the carrier, said bails including horizontally extending sideenclosure members for said base connecting the arms of the Us andcooperating with the upwardly projecting walls of the base in lowered aswell as in raised position'to Aretain bottles on the bottom portionthereof against lateral displacement.

4. A bottle carrier comprising only three elements, namely, a one-piecesheet metal base of rectangular form providing a bottle-supportingbottom portion and having opposed upwardly bent parallel portions, saidbent-up portions having substantially vvertical slots provided thereinadjacent the opposite sidey edgesthereoi, and a pair of handle bailsslidably pivotally attached directly to opposite sides of vsaid basevinA said slots on said vupwardly projecting portions for movement up anddown relative to-said base to and from an elevated carrying position,said balls being interconnectilcle and disconnectible .and constructedto serve when interconnected to cooperate with said upwardly projectingportions to retain bottles on said base substantially the same inlowered position as when in elevated carrying position. y

5. A bottle carrier comprising only three elements, namely, a one-piecesheet metal base of rectangular form providing a ,bottle-supportingbottom yportion and having opposed upwardly bent parallel portions, saidbent-up. portions have ing substantially verticalslots provided `thereinadjacent the opposite side kedges thereonand a pair of invertedgenerally U-shape'd Vwire 1| handle balls for carrying the carrierhaving eyes ered position as when i-n elevated carrying position, thecross portions of the'Us forming vearrier handles and being arranged tobe held together in one hand in carrying the carrier.

6. A bottle carrier comprising only three elements, namely, a one-piecesheet metal base of rectangular form providing a bottle-supportingbottom portion and having opposed upwardly bent parallel portions, saidbent-up portions having substantially vertical slots provided thereinadjacent the opposite side edges thereof, and a pair of invertedgenerally U-shaped wire handle bails for carrying the carrier havingeyes formed on the lower ends of the arms of the Us which are loopedthrough the slots for a sliding pivotal connection of said bailsdirectly to said base permitting free up and down movement of said bailsrelative to said base to and from an elevated carrying position, thecross portions of the Us forming carrier handles and being arranged tobe held together in one hand in carrying the carrier, said bailsincluding horizontally extending side enclosure wire members for saidbase connecting the arms of the Us and cooperating with the upwardlyprojecting portions of the base in lowered as well as in raised positionto retain bottles on the bottom portion thereof against lateraldisplacement.

'7. A bottle carrier comprising a base of rectangular form providing abottle-supporting bottom portion and opposed upwardly projecting wallportions, said upwardly projecting wall portions having substantiallyvertical openings provided therein adjacent the opposite side edgesthereof, and a pair of handle bails slidably pivotally attached directlyto opposite sides of said base in said openings on said upwardlyprojecting wall portions for movement up and down relative to said baseto and from an elevated carrying position, the upwardly projecting wallportions of said base extending in an upwardly diverging relation so asto permit nesting of one base in another and so that said bails tend tobecome wedged in the upper ends of said slots in their elevated carryingposition for greater rigidity of the carrier.

8. A bottle carrier comprising a base formed to provide abottle-supporting bottom portion and opposed rigid upwardly projectingwalls, rigid vertical guide portions on opposite ends of said walls, apair of inverted generally U-shaped bails for carrying the carrierhaving eyes formed on the lower end of the arms of the Us which areslidably pivotally attached directly to said guide portions to permitfree up and down movement of said bails relative to said base to andfrom an elevated carrying position, the cross portions of the Us formingcarrier handles and being arranged to be held together in one hand incarrying the carrier, the cross portion of the one U being shorter thanthe cross portion of the other U so as to permit intertting the upperends of said bails in criss-cross relation, said cross portions beinglexible and resilient, and a transverse projection on one of saidcross-portions interangabe mediate the ends thereof arranged to beengaged behind `the cross portionv 'on the-other Vbail lwhen 'the bailsarein criss-cross relation by` flexing the latter cross pertionvintermediate its ends to permit such interengagement, whereby releasably-to lpcl said ,bails together with their cross portions in abutment foruse together as a single handle.

9. A bottle lcarrier comprising a base formedV to provide a bottlesupporting bottom portion and opposed rigidupwardly projecting endportions adapted to prevent .bottles standing on the bottom portion ofthe base. from being displaced 01T the ends of said base, a pair ofbails for carrying the carrier slidably 'pivotallyy attached directly toopposite sides of said base on said upwardly projecting end portions for`movement Aup and down relative to said base to vand from an elevatedcarrying position, and means rigidly secured to said bails and movableup and down therewith relative to the base and cooperating with theupwardly projecting end portions adapted to prevent bottles standing onsaid base between the end portions from being displaced oi the sides ofsaid base.

10. A bottle carrier comprising a base formed to provide a bottlesupporting bottom portion and opposed rigid upwardly projecting endportions adapted to prevent bottles standing on the bottom portion ofthe base from being displaced off the ends of said base, a pair of bailsfor carrying the carrier slidably pivotally attached directly toopposite sides of said base on said upwardly projecting end portions formovement up and down relative to said base to and from an elevatedcarrying position, means rigidly secured to said bails and movable upand down therewith relative to the base and cooperating with theupwardly projecting end portions adapted to prevent bottles standing onsaid base between the end portions from being displaced 01T the sides ofsaid base, and means for detachably securing said bails together inoperative relationship to one another.

11. A bottle carrier comprising a one-piece sheet metal base ofrectangular form providing a bottle-supporting bottom portion and havingopposed upwardly bent parallel portions to prevent bottles standing onthe bottom portion of the base from being displaced off said base in thedirection of said bent-up portions, said upwardly bent portions havingsubstantially vertical slots provided therein adjacent the opposite sideedges thereof, a pair of opposed bails slidably pivotally attacheddirectly to said base in said slots on said upwardly bent portions formovement up and down relative to said base to and from an elevatedcarrying position, and means rigidly secured to said bails and movableup and down therewith relative to the base and cooperating with theupwardly bent portions to prevent bottles standing on said base betweenthe upwardly bent portions from being displaced off the other two sidesof said base.

12. A bottle carrier comprising a one-piece sheet metal base ofrectangular form providing a bottle-supporting bottom portion and havingopposed upwardly bent parallel portions to prevent bottles standing onthe bottom portion of the base from being displaced 01T said base in thedirection of said bent-up portions, said upwardly bent portions havingsubstantially vertical slots provided therein adjacent the opposite sideedges thereof, a pair of opposed bails slidably pivotally attacheddirectly to said base in said slots on said upwardly bent portions formovement up and down relative to said base to and from an elevatedcarrying position, means rigidly secured to said bails and movable upand down therewith relative to the base and cooperating with theupwardly bent portions to prevent bottles standing on said base betweenthe upwardly bent portions from being displaced 01T the other two sidesof said base, and means for detachably securing said bails together inoperative relationship to one another.

GEORGE H. ALLINGTON.

JOSEPH M. GRZELAK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

Number 8 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Page o- Nov. 8, 1903 Smith Dec.9, 1941 Reid et al. Apr. 13, 1943 Brunhoff Apr. 13, 1943 Nemetz Oct. 19,1943 Booth May 2, 1944 Goldman Mar. 5, 1946 Ice July 16, 1946 McCallaApr. 22, 1947

